Automatic spring roller curtain control



Oct. 11, 1932.

c. J. KASPER AUTOMATIC SPRING ROLLER CURTAIN CONTROL Filed Oct. 28, 1951 Ji .2. 1o .9 I

Patentecl- Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE CHRISTIAN JOSEPH KASPEB, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK AUTOMATIC 'srnme ROLLER CURTAIN CONTROL Application filed October 28, 1981., Serial No. 571,627.

the same may be mounted, and capable of lightly engaging a window shade at the ends thereof with a uniform spring pressure and thereby insuring a uniform windingup of the curtain or shade without liability of wearing, marring or otherwise injuring or defacing the window shade.

A further object of the invention is to pro- I vide a spring roller curtain control of this character equipped with shadeengaging rollers adapted to bear against the rolled-up portion of a curtain or shade at three approxi- I mately uniformly spaced points to insure a uniform even winding'up of a curtain or shade and adapted when the curtain or shade is unrolled to automatically relieve the same of the spring pressure of one of the said rollers, thereby providing a two-point roller engagement with the curtainor shade in unwinding or unrolling the same. i

It is also an object of the invention to provide a spring roller curtain control adapt A ed to adjust itself automatically to the varying diameter of the rolled-up portion of a curtain or shade and capable also of following and adjusting itself to all eccentric forms or rollers, if any.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a spring roller curtain control adapted to be readily opened to permit a window shade or curtain to be readily placed in or removed from the window shade brackets and adapted also to be thrown upward out of the way without removing any of the parts or affecting the spring action of the device when it is desired to clean the upper portion of a window. With these and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, .it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportion,

and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to with,- out departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

, In the drawing: V

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper 'portion of a curtain provided with an automatic controlling device constructed. in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a planview of the same. I

Fig.3 is a vertical sectional viewon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. FFig. 4 is a similar View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the manner of mounting the pivot of the inner and outer roller carrying members.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a window shade mounted on a spring roller 2 ofthe ordinary construction supported in window shade brackets 3 and 4 which are secured to the window frame or casing by suitable fastening devices 5. The fastening devices 5 also se cure to the window frame or casing right and I left supporting brackets 6 and 7 of the automatic springroller curtain or shade control, which comprises a pair of similar devices lo cated atthe end portions of the spring roller 2 adjacent the side edges of the window shade, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. As each of the devices of the spring roller curtain control is constructed exactly like the other, with the exception of the supporting brackets being made right and left in order to extend inwardly fro-m the roller shade brackets, a description of one of the devices will be suiiicient and will comprehend the structure of both.

The supporting brackets 6 and 7 consist of an outer vertical portion 8, an inwardly extending portion 9, and an upwardly extending top portion 10, which is provided with spaced outwardly extending horizontal supporting arms 11. The outer vertical portion 8 is provided with spaced vertical slots 12 through which pass the fastening'devices which secure the window shade brackets 3 and at of the Window frame or casing. The slots provide for a vertical adjustment of the shade control device and enable the same to be readily applied to a window frame without changing the position of the shade roller brackets. Instead, however, of constructing the supporting brackets 6 and 7 separate from the window shade brackets, they may, of course, be made of a single piece of material, as will bereadily understood.

The horizontal supporting arms 11 are provided at their outer ends with transversely aligned openings 13 through which passes a transverse pivot 14 having reduced threaded ends 15 for the reception of nuts 16. The nuts have reduced inner portions 17 arranged adjacent the openings 13 and abutting against shoulders formed by the reduction of the pivot 14 to form the threaded ends 15.

The reduced inner portions of the nuts space the heads of the nuts from the arms 11 to. provide intervening spaces for the reception of the upper ends 18 of spaced sides 19 of a roller carrying lever.

The transverse pivot forms a support for inner and outer'roller carrying members 20 and 21 constituting pendent swinging arms and each composed of spaced sidesand an intermediate connecting portion. The-inner and outer roller carrying members 20 and 21, which diverge downwardly from the said transverse pivot, are provided at their lower ends with shade engaging rollers 22'and 23 which normally bear lightly against the rolled-up portion of the window shade 1 at opposite sides thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4c of the drawing. The rollers 22 and 23 are mounted between the sides of the inner and outer roller carrying mem bers by means of suitable pivots 24 and 25 which may be of any desiredconstruction.

The rollers 22 and 23 are maintained normally in engagement with the rolled-up por-:

tion of the'window shade by means of a coiled spring 26disposed on the-pivot 14 and having its terminals 27 and 28 bearing against the transverse connecting portions 29 and 30 shade and to urge the roller 23 intosuch engagement, and enables the rollers 22 and 23 to adjust themselves automatically to the bearing diameter of the rolled-up portion of the window shade. The spring 26 also permits the roller 23 to move outwardly as hereinafter fully explained, when the window shade is pulled down or unrolled more or less violently or rapidly to provide a two-point engagement of the device during such unrolling operation, as hereinafter fully explained.

The pivot 25 of the roller 23 of the outer rollercarrying member is extended to form a pivot or fulcrum for the sides 19 of the roller carrying lever, and the said sides 19 extend upwardly and downwardly from the said pivot 25 to form upper and lower arms. The upper arms of the roller carrying lever are substantially straight and are enlarged at their upper ends and are provided thereat with transverse arcuate slots 31 to receive the reduced portions 17 of the nut 16 and limit the oscillatory movement of the roller carrying lever on the pivot 25 and guide the lever in such movement to prevent any lateral movement of the same. The lower arm 32 of the roller carrying lever is curved and extended downwardly and inwardly beneath the rolled up portion of the shade 1 and carries a shade engaging roller 33 mounted between the' sides 19 of the roller carrying lever by means of a. suitable pivot 34 which may be of any desired construction. The roller 33 bears against the rolled-up portion of the window shade 1 at the bottom thereof, and it is maintained in engagement with the window shade by means of a pair of coiled springs 35 disposed on the terminal portions of the pivot 25 and interposed between the sides of the outer roller carrying member, and the sides of the roller carrying lever.

The terminals 36 and 37 are connected respectively with the sides of the outer roller carrying member and the sides of the roller carrying lever above the pivotal point thereof. The springs 35, which are located at opposite sides of the roller carrying lever, maintain a substantially uniform light spring pressure on the lever for holding the roller 33 in engagementwith the window shade and the slotted upper arm of the lever permits a limited pivotal movement on the pivot or journals of the roller 23 to enable the roller 33 to move inwardly and outwardly and automatically adjust itself to the roller portion of the window shade. \Vhen the window shade is rolled up in the usual manner by the spring'actuated roller, the rollers of the automatic control have a three-point engagement with the shade at the spring roller and are located approximately 120 degrees apart and exert only a very light pressure on the roller, which is sufficient to cause the shade to roll up in a straight uniform condition.

When the shade is rolled up the control device provides a three-point engagement with the shade, and when the shade is unrolled suddenly or violently therotation'of the roller in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 of the drawing tends to cause the roller carrying lever to move outward sufficiently to carry the roller 23 out of engagement with the window shade so that there is only a two-point engagement of the control device with the window shade in such rapid unrolling the latter. This will permit the rolled shade to be pulled down as quickly as desired without liability of causing the rollers to bear with any greater force on the window shade, and in fact the outward movement of the lower arm of the roller carrying lever in moving the roller 23 out of engagement with the shade reduces the spring pressure on the window shade and facilitates a rapid unwinding or unrollingof the same. The shade engaging rollers are so sensitive, owing to, the lightness and arrangement of the springs,.that theywill not wear or mar the shade or in any way injure or show an impression on the same, and if desired the automatic shade control when used with expensive curtains of silk or other high grade material, may be provided with a covering of felt, velvet or other suitable material.

The roller carrying lever, which is con-- nected with the outer roller carrying memher, is adapted to be readily separated with respect to the inner-roller carrying member to open and close the controldevice to per mit a window shade roller to be easily and quickly placed in and removed from its window shade brackets. lVhen the window shade and roller are removed the control devices are free to swing upwardly to a position above the supporting arms 11, so as to be out of the way when it is desired to'clean the window frame or casing in rear of the shade roller. This will enable the window shade to be taken down for house-cleaning or other purposes, without removing any of the parts of the spring control device,'or

affecting operation of the same. Also, in

case of any eccentric or irregular curtain ing up of a curtain on such rollers.

What is claimed is: I

1. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising a pair of control devices designed to be located adjacent the end portions of a spring shade roller and including inner and outer pivotally mounted members provided with means for engaging the rolled-up portion of a window shade at spaced points, a lever fulcrumed on one of the said members and extending therefrom and provided with 5 means for engaging the rolled-up portion of the window shade opposite the space between the engaging portions of the members, and means for vyieldably maintaining the members and the lever in engagement with the said shade, whereby the pivoted members and the lever will automatically adjust themselves .to the changing diameter of the rolled up portion of a window shade and maintain constant contact with the same.

2. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising a pair of control devices designed to be located adjacentthe, end portions of a spring shade roller and including pendent pivotallymounted inner and outer members provided with rollers arranged to engage the rolled up portion of awindow shade at spaced points, a lever pivotally mounted on one of the members and extend ing therefrom and provided with a roller arranged to engage the window shade opposite the space between the rollers, and means for yieldably maintaining the rollers in engagement with the window shade, whereby the trol comprising a pair of control devices designedto be located adjacent the end portions of a spring shade roller and including inner and outer pendent roller carrying members' provided with rollers arranged to engage the rolled-up portion of a window shade at the front and back thereof, a roller car rying lever pivotally mountedon the outer roller carrying member and extending beneath the rolled-up portion of the window shade and provided with a roller engaging the rolled-up portion of the window shade at the bottom thereof, and means for yieldably maintaining the' rollers in engagement with the window shades, whereby the rollers will automatically adjust themselves to the varying diameter of the rolled-up portion of a window shade and maintain constant contact with the same.

4. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising a pair of control devices de signed to be located adjacent the end portions of a spring shade roller'and including inner and outer pendent roller carrying members provided with rollers arranged to engage the rolled-up portion ofia window shade at the front and back thereof, a roller carrying lever fulcrumed between its ends on the outer roller carrying member to form upper and lower arms, the lower arm being extended beneath the rolled-up portion ofthe window shade and provided with a roller engaging the rolled-up portion of the shade at the bottom thereof, means associated with the upper arm of the lever and limiting the pivotal movement thereof, and means for yieldably maintaining the rollers in engagement with the l window shade, whereby the rollers will. autotomatically adjust themselvesto the varying diameter of the rolled. up portion of a window shade and maintain. constant contact with the same.

said outer roller carryingmember at the axis of the roller thereofto form upper and lower arms, the lower arm being provided with a roller arranged to engage the roller portion of the shade at the space between the rollers,

and the upper arm of the lever being provided with arcuate slots through which. the pivot extends and limiting the pivotal movement of the lever, and means for yieldably maintaining the rollers in engagement with the window shade, whereby the rollers will automatically adjust themselves to the varying diameter of the rolled up portionof a window shade and maintain constant contact with the same.

6. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising. a palr of control. devices designed to be located adjacent the end portions of a spring shade roller and including a suppor ing bracket having projecting arms and provided with a transverse pivot,

inner and outer roller carrying members hung from the pivot and provided with shade engaging rollers for engaging the rolled-up portion ofa window shade at spaced points, a roller carrying lever'fulcrumed between its ends on the outer roller carrying member. at the axis of the roller thereof to form upper and lower arms, the lowerjarm being provided wlth a roller arranged to en-v gage the roller portion of the shade at the space between the rollers, and the upper arm of: the lever being provided with arcuate slots through which the pivot extends and limiting the pivotal movement. of. the lever, a coiled spring disposed on the pivot and connected with the members for yieldably maintaining the rollers thereof in engagement with the-window shade, and spaced springs ocated at the axis of the roller of the outer member and connected with the same and with the lever for yieldably maintaining the a roller thereof in engagement with the window shade. V

An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising" a pair of control devices designed to be located adiacent the end portions of a spring shade roller and including a plurality of shadeenga-ging rollers ar nssaoaa ranged. to engage a window shade at spaced points, means for pivotally mounting the rollers to permit the same'to swing inwardly and outwardly with respect to the shade independently of one another, and means for yieldably maintaining the rollers normally in engagement with the window shade, whereby the rollers will automatically adjust themselves to the varying diameter of the rolled up portion of a window shade and maintain constant contact with the same.

8. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising a pair of control devices designed to be located adjacent the end portions of a spring shade roller and including: a. plurality of shade engaging rollers arranged to engage a window shade at spaced points, arms carrying the rollers, means for pivotally mounting the arms to permit the rollers to swing inwardly and outwardly independently of one another with respect to the window shade, and springs connected with the arms for normally maintaining the rollers in engagement with the window shade, whereby the rollers will automatically adjust themselvesto the varying diameter of the rolled up portion of a window shade and maintain constant contact with the same.

9. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising a pair of control devices designed to be located adjacent the end portions of a spring shade roller and including a plurality of shade engaging rollers arranged to engage a window shade at spaced points, pivotally mounted inner and outer arms carrying two of the rollers, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the outer arm and carrying another of the rollers, and springs connected with the arms foryieldably maintaining the rollers in engagement with the window shade, the pivot of the inner and outer arms permitting the control devices to allow the window shade to be inserted in and removed from its bearings, and also permitting the said arms to swing upwardly out of the way when the shade roller is removed.

10. An automatic spring roller curtain control comprising a pair of control devices designed to be located adj acentthe end portions of a spring shade roller and including a supporting bracket consisting of an outer attaching portion and an intermediate portion extending inwardly from the upper end of the attaching portion, and a top portion extending upwardly from the intermediate portion and provided with outwardly projecting supporting arms, a transverse pivot carried by the arms, pendent innerand outer roller carrying members hung from the pivot, a roller carrying lever having spaced sides pivotally mounted on the outer member at the lower end thereof to form upper and lower arms, the upper arms being provided with slots receiving the pivot to limit and guide the lever in its pivotal movement, the

CHRISTIAN J. KASPER. 

